Political Rising

This Wisconsin teen used his student council experiences as a springboard to involvement with the Democratic National Committee, becoming one of the youngest members at the DNC's national convention last summer.

Jason Rae believes in being a good listener. Listening to the voices of classmates and constituents has helped him succeed, both in the classroom and on a broader level as one of the youngest members of the Democratic National Committee. Just don't expect Rae to listen too closely to those who tell him it can't be done. Rae's philosophy is to never give up, even when people tell you that your goals cannot be reached.

"If I had listened to those who had doubts about my success, I would have given up. Instead, I went for it and gave it my all," says Rae.

This optimistic attitude, a long-time love of politics, and a desire to represent today's youth, have all combined to make Rae one of the most active student leaders in the country.

Rae's political aspirations date back to Kindergarten when he told classmates that he wanted to be President of the United States some day. He lost his first bid for student council representative in the sixth grade but did not allow the early loss to discourage him. At Rice Lake (WI) HS, Rae has been actively involved in student government since his sophomore year. Currently, he is the student council president for the 2004-05 school year. As president, he leads meetings, oversees committees, and is a liaison between students and faculty members.

Rae believes that communication is a key to fostering quality relationships. His goal is to improve communication and cooperation between students and faculty by stressing that everyone's input is valuable in building a cohesive community at school.

Rae's student council adviser; Paul Thurston, tries to help his students find activities that will not only help them succeed in school but also transfer that success to areas outside of the classroom. He shares Rae's belief that communication is an important element to success.

"Jason is a unique high school student," Thurston says. "Along with strong organizational skills, he has the ability to be at ease and speak effectively not only with his high school friends, but also with experts in the political arena."

In addition to supporting the student council at his own school, Rae was also elected to serve as the Wisconsin Association of Student Council's vice president for 2004-2005. Rae works with other student leaders throughout the state to determine budget requirements and to set leadership goals for student councils in Wisconsin.

Each summer, Rae fine-tunes his leadership skills by attending a student government leadership camp in Green Bay. The camp provides students with an opportunity to learn skills appropriate for their current grade level. Over the years, he has participated in workshops focusing on basic planning skills, parliamentary procedure, and negotiation tactics.

"Attending the camp is one of my favorite weeks out of the year. In addition to learning skills that apply directly to student council, I also laugh harder that week than at any other time. It is so much fun," says Rae. He has completed all of the programs offered by the camp, so he now works as a camp counselor advising other student leaders.

Political Involvement

During the 2003-04 school year, Rae decided to expand his political horizons and spent five months in Washington, DC, working as a Senate page. Rae was one of 30 student leaders from across the country chosen to participate for the semester. "It was difficult missing out on some special events at my high school, but it was a phenomenal experience working on the floor of the U.S. Senate with the country's most influential leaders. The absolute highlight was getting to attend the State of the Union address. I wish I could do it all over again," Rae says.

In 2004, Rae campaigned for a seat on the Democratic National Committee representing Wisconsin. His research indicated that the only age requirement was for an individual to be at least 14 years old. Rae blanketed voters with information regarding his credentials and stressed that his record as a student leader had proven his willingness to get involved. In June 2004, he was elected to a four-year term as one of the youngest committee members in recent history.

As a committee member, Rae will attend administrative meetings in Wisconsin and will travel to potential host sites for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Rae will also participate in fundraisers and canvassing activities for campaigning party members.

As a new committee member, Rae attended the 2004 Democratic convention in Boston. He found the whole experience to be mesmerizing. "It was thrilling to be on the convention floor for Senator John Kerry's speech," he says. "I am learning so much from my recent travels. All of this is so new to me. My trip to Washington, DC, last year was my first real taste of long distance travel. Now I am accumulating frequent flyer miles right and left."

Foundation for Success

In spite of his other responsibilities, Rae says that he still finds time to be a kid, hang out with his friends, and work part time. He admits that he actually enjoys his busy schedule. It can be a challenge to manage his time effectively, but according to Rae, it somehow all works out in the end.

Rae attributes much of his leadership success to the basic skills he learned in student council. He believes that positive people skills are a must. "Good communication is critical," he says. "Tell the people not only what you are going to do but how you will get it done."

And always, Rae is listening. "As a leader, it is important to remember that you are there to speak for somebody," he says. "Focus on what the people you are representing really care about. Ask how your actions and the actions of others are going to affect the future."

Kathleen Wilson Shryock is a freelance writer in Olathe, KS.

Copyright National Association of Secondary School Principals Apr 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved